Protests halt services at 20 banks in Patiya

Operations at 20 banks in Patiya, Chattogram, were suspended on Sunday (August 10) as former officers and employees of six private banks staged protests demanding reinstatement.

The demonstrators also blocked ATM booths, disrupting transactions and causing hardship for customers.

The protesters, many of whom are residents of Patiya, claim that around 7,000 officers were dismissed without notice from Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, and First Security Islami Bank after the change of government in August last year.

Gathering early in the morning, the dismissed employees positioned themselves in front of bank branches at 9.00am, preventing staff and clients from entering. Among the affected institutions are six government and 14 private banks.

Abul Kalam, a local school teacher, said, “I came to withdraw my salary, but the bank is closed. I urgently need the money and don’t know how to manage without it.”

Patiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Nuruzzaman said, “We are in discussions with the protesters to resolve the matter. They have been urged to withdraw the blockade and allow banking services to resume to ease public suffering.”